Robotic Milking & Grazing Study Groups: Learning from Each Other’s Practices

How can robotic milking be optimally combined with grazing? Which grazing strategy best suits your farm? And how do you keep a grip on grass growth during a volatile growing season? Participants in the ‘Robot & Grazing’ study groups tackled these questions over the past few weeks during four practical meetings held across the country.

Guided by experienced pasture coaches, the focus was on knowledge exchange, practical experiences, and farm visits. Learning from one another, in particular, proves to be one of the study groups' greatest assets.

North Study Group

In the North study group, grazing coach Bert Philipsen guided participants through various grazing systems, the combination of robotic milking and pasture access, and the importance of efficient cow traffic. Considerable attention was also paid to grass quality throughout the season and determining which grazing system best suits each farm's specific strategy.

A farm visit provided valuable practical insights. "My knowledge of grass growth has been refreshed," one participant noted, while another gained a better understanding of the 'New Dutch Grazing' method and the benefits of using four to six paddocks. The interactive format and the collaborative assessment of real-world situations were highly valued.

Northeast Study Group

Practical experiences were also central to the Northeast study group. Participants discussed their own grazing systems and received advice on paddock layout, routing, and grass availability.

One participant identified the key takeaway as the fact that "strip grazing seems to combine well with automatic milking," while another highlighted the value of "learning from each other's practical experiences."

Central/West Study Group

In the Central/West region, grazing coach Wim Honkoop provided the technical guidance. The meeting focused on various practical experiences regarding grazing combined with robotic milking, offering plenty of opportunity for participants to share their insights. Participants expressed an interest in learning more about grazing registration systems and their practical application; this topic will be explored further at a future meeting.

Central/East Study Group

This time, the Central/East study group visited the Groot Koerkamp dairy farm. Together with pasture coach Ap van der Bas, the participants discussed how various farms handle the combination of robotic milking and grazing under diverse conditions.

The growing season was a key topic of discussion. Alternating periods of wet weather, explosive grass growth, and drought forced many dairy farmers to adjust their grazing strategies along the way. Considerable attention was also paid to topics such as grazing young stock, fertilization, predicting grass growth, and the potential of tools and data applications to better manage these aspects. The meeting concluded with an extensive farm tour that sparked lively discussion and provided ample opportunity to share knowledge, experience, and questions.

Learning together in practice

The study groups demonstrate the wealth of knowledge possessed by dairy farmers. By sharing experiences, visiting farms, and seeking practical solutions together, participants gain insights they can immediately apply to their own farm management. The study groups will reconvene after the summer to address new topics.